No it’s not you: Instagram is down

Instagram, the widely popular photo-sharing and social networking app, is experiencing a significant outage, according to reports on Downdetector. Thousands of users have been affected, with complaints surging late this evening. The outage has disrupted access to the app, website, and server connections, leaving many users frustrated and unable to share posts, view stories, or message friends.

Downdetector, a platform that tracks real-time service disruptions, shows a dramatic spike in user reports. The chart displays a sharp increase around 9 PM, with over 70,000 users reporting issues in the last 24 hours. This marks one of the most widespread disruptions Instagram has faced in recent months. The issues appear to span multiple regions, with reports flooding in globally. Users have reported app crashes, slow loading times, and failures in accessing Instagram’s website.

As of now, the problems seem to fall into three primary categories:

1. App functionality: Users are unable to load the app or perform basic actions like uploading photos or videos.
2. Website access: The desktop version of Instagram is inaccessible for many, with browsers showing error messages or prolonged loading times.
3. Server connection: Some users have indicated they’re unable to log in or are receiving connection error prompts.

Frustrated users have taken to other platforms like Twitter to voice their concerns and share their experiences.

As of now, Instagram’s parent company, Meta, has not issued an official statement regarding the cause of the outage. Typically, Meta addresses such situations swiftly via its social media channels or website updates, but no confirmation or timeline for resolution has been provided yet. In previous outages, the company has attributed similar disruptions to technical server issues or routine maintenance.

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The outage is particularly disruptive for businesses and influencers who rely on Instagram for promotion and engagement. With the platform down, many campaigns, live sessions, and scheduled posts have been delayed or canceled. For users dependent on Instagram’s services for their income, the downtime highlights the risks of relying too heavily on a single platform.

For those affected, Downdetector recommends reporting issues to Meta via their official support channels. Users are also encouraged to check for updates through Meta’s Twitter account or the official Instagram Help Center. In the meantime, restarting the app or clearing cache files might temporarily resolve minor glitches, although the root cause seems server-related.

Featured image credit: Luke van Zyl/Unsplash